TURKISH DELIGHT AT CZECH-OUT
Monday, June 16th, 2008 by Stuart Stratford
EURO 2008 MATCHDAY NINE
GROUP A
TURKEY 3 - 2 CZECH REPUBLIC
Petr Cech’s error helped Turkey rise from the Euro 2008 ashes to progress at the expense of the Czech Republic, perennial tournament dark horses. The seemingly straightforward task of defending a two goal lead for the final twenty minutes proved beyond the Czech’s, breaking their countrymen’s hearts and setting the Turks on course for a quarter-final showdown with Germany or Austria.
Jan Koller put the Czech’s ahead with a powerful header from Grygera’s cross on thirty-three minutes, Demirel should have done better to keep it out of the net; his attempt to scoop the ball over the bar merely served to divert it into the net via the woodwork. When Jan Plasil slid into meet Sionko’s cross on sixty-two minutes, it seemed that the formbook would be held and the Czech’s progression was assured.
It was however the cue for Nihat to take centre stage in the match. With fifteen minutes to go, Arda Turan shot the Turks back into the game from just inside the Czech area. It provided the impetus that was needed to fight for their survival, a cause aided from the unlikeliest of sources.
With three minutes of normal time remaining, Petr Cech inexplicably dropped a cross at the feet of Nihat who could not refuse the generous offer to restore parity. Even so, the Villarreal forward could not have dreamed of what was to follow. With a minute to go, Nihat lashed the ball into the Czech net to spark wild celebrations that the last minute dismissal of ‘keeper Demirel could not dampen.
Tags: Czech Republic, Euro 2008, Football, Soccer, Turkey
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